OPEI is an international trade association representing 84 manufacturers and their suppliers of consumer and commercial outdoor power equipment, such as lawnmowers, utility vehicles, trimmers, chainsaws, snow throwers, and other related products.

The institute was founded in 1952, and is dedicated to promoting the outdoor power equipment industry by undertaking activities that can be pursued more effectively by an association than by individual companies. OPEI is also a managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show and exposition for equipment.

Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the OPEI and the OPEI Education and Research Foundation, is also an attorney and joined the institute four years ago. Prior to joining OPEI, Mr. Kiser served for 14 years in senior management at two major Washington, D.C. trade associations. He was Vice President of State and International Affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the American Forest & Paper Association.

Mr. Kiser also worked nine years for noted international affairs expert and former Congressman Lee H. Hamilton. He was Special Assistant in the Congressman’s personal office and spent two years as the chief administrative staffer (AA) with the Joint Economic Committee during Hamilton’s Chairmanship of the Committee.

Alexandria, VA – August 30, 2010 – The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) today announced that on August 26, 2010, in a unanimous 32-0 vote, the California State Senate adopted SB 1402, a bill that will begin to make the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) enforcement program transparent, consistent and fair. OPEI and its CERT partners applaud the legislature’s adoption of SB 1402 without a single negative vote, and now urge the Governor to sign SB 1402 into law.

OPEI is a founding partner of and one of 17 national and California-based associations that belong to Californians for Enforcement Reform and Transparency (CERT). CERT is committed to working cooperatively with CARB to enhance CARB’s compliance and enforcement programs.

Senator Dutton, the incoming Republican Senate leader who drafted and sponsored the legislation, stated: “I urge the Governor to sign this legislation, which has received unanimous bipartisan support. This bill will help private businesses in California achieve fair and consistent settlements. This legislation also helps create greater transparency at CARB, which will ultimately help this state retain and create jobs in California.”

CARB is charged with attaining and maintaining air quality standards in the State of California, which includes the enforcement of air quality standards. Currently, it is not clear whether and how CARB applies criteria or policies when it assesses penalties. This results in a subjective, ad hoc enforcement program that does not clearly or consistently distinguish serious violations that harm air quality from minor administrative glitches.

For that reason, former CARB Chairman, John Dunlap, explained that “Under the current situation, the public and the regulated community are left in the dark about how CARB calculates penalties. This leads to the perception that CARB’s proposed penalties are arbitrary and inconsistent – which in turn results in protracted enforcement disputes and litigation.”

If signed into law, the new rules will require CARB to:

provide a clear explanation of how penalties are assessed on a per-unit basis,

develop a written, consistent penalty policy that ensures the largest penalties are imposed on serious violations that adversely impact air quality, and

report those penalties to the Legislature annually.

Kris Kiser, Executive Vice President of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute said “Too often, CARB’s enforcement actions against non-compliant, unsafe products from off-shore, new market entrants appear less aggressive than CARB’s actions taken against ‘deep pocket,’ reputable manufacturers for minor administrative errors. SB 1402 will help CARB address this problem in a thoughtful and consistent manner. OPEI looks forward to continuing its long-term partnership with CARB and the US EPA to create a transparent, fair and even playing field where there is strong enforcement against gross violations from non-compliant products.”

About the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

OPEI is an international trade association representing the $15 billion landscape, forestry, utility and lawn and garden equipment manufacturing industry. OPEI is a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Standards Organization (ISO) in the development of safety standards. Founded in 1952, OPEI represents and promotes the outdoor power equipment industry and ensures the public may continue to benefit from the economic, lifestyle and environmental contributions of lawns and landscapes. For more information on OPEI, visit www.OPEI.org.

]]>http://opei.org/carb-enforcement-reforms-ready-for-california-governors-signature/feed/0Outdoor Power Equipment Institute believes new exhaust emission standards are fair and achievablehttp://opei.org/outdoor-power-equipment-institute-believes-new-exhaust-emission-standards-are-fair-and-achievable/
http://opei.org/outdoor-power-equipment-institute-believes-new-exhaust-emission-standards-are-fair-and-achievable/#commentsMon, 10 May 2010 16:02:40 +0000Kristenhttp://opei.org/?p=641Alexandria, VA – August 12, 2008 – The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will issue Phase 3 emission standards for new nonroad* spark ignition engines later this month that will further reduce emissions and include some key requests from OPEI.

Following the 1990 amendments to the federal Clean Air Act, EPA began Phase 1 of its program to regulate outdoor power equipment emissions which became effective in 1997, followed by Phase 2 in 2002 and culminating in this year’s Phase 3 regulations. Once fully implemented, the outdoor power equipment industry will have reduced emissions by 95 percent in just 15 years since it first became regulated.

“Although challenging, we believe the new exhaust emission standards are fair and achievable,“ said Kris Kiser, Vice President, Public Affairs, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. “OPEI members will meet or exceed the new standards.“

The new EPA Phase 3 Regulations include the following provisions:

An additional 35 percent reduction in exhaust emissions and a 45 percent reduction in total evaporative emissions beginning in 2009 and fully implemented by 2015.

Stronger EPA enforcement authority to prevent importation and retail of non-compliant equipment, with safeguards to assure equal compliance for U.S. and off-shore manufacturers.

Ability to certify engines on E10 fuel, ensuring products can operate more efficiently using fuels currently in the marketplace.

“By attaining a 95 percent reduction in emissions within 15 years, and with scientific studies confirming a carbon benefit for responsibly maintained turfgrass, OPEI is proud of the industry’s track record in environmental stewardship and developing cleaner technologies,“ said Kiser.

About OPEI
OPEI is an international trade association representing the $15 billion landscape, forestry, utility and lawn equipment manufacturing industry. OPEI is committed to ongoing efforts to ensure consumer safety and access to outdoor power equipment in order to maintain and enhance outdoor landscapes. OPEI works with federal, state and local groups to ensure that equipment operates efficiently, effectively and is fully emission compliant. For more information on OPEI visit www.OPEI.org.